Ventilating window structures



April 2, 1963 B. K. BAKKE VENTILATING WINDOW STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 12, 1960 FIG. 7

5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR:

BJWRN KNAG BAKKE.

ATTORNEY Aprll 2, 1963 B. K. BAKKE 3,083,799

VENTILATING WINDOW STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 12, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

BJflRN KNAG BAKKE.

ATTORNEY Aprll 2, 1963 s. K. BAKKE 3,033,799

VENTILATING WINDOW STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 12, 1960 INVENTOR' ATTORNEY April 2, 1963 B. K. BAKKE VENTILATING WINDOW STRUCTURES 5 Sheets$heet 4 Filed Jan. 12, 1960 INVENTORz BJflRN KNAG BAKKE.

ATTORNEY April 2, 1963 B. K. BAKKE 3,083,799

VENTILATING WINDOW STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 12, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR:

BJWRN KNAG BAKKE.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,083,799 VENTiLATlNG WENDGW STRUiITURES Bjorn Knag Bakke, Bergen, Norway, assiguor to A. Knag A/S, Bergen, Norway Filed Jan. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 1,937 Claims priority, appiication Norway Jan. 16, 1959 8 Claims. (Q1. 189-65) This invention relates to ventilating window structures and in particular to a novel arrangement for locking the window frame in its closed position whilst simultaneously obtaining a tight seal between the movable window frame and the stationary framing of the wall.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction which will support the window frame in the closed and locked position in a firm but resilient grip while securing adequate tightness between movable and stationary parts. Another object of the invention is to enable the minor movements due to thermal expansion to take place without detriment to the seal.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a construction which will lock the window frame securely in closed position without subjecting the frame to stresses which may distort same.

Among the further objects of the invention is the provision of a ventilating window structure which is particularly advantageous in wall structures of the kind known in the trade as glazed curtain walling. The arrangement according to the invention is in particular intended to be used in the wall structure described in my copending application No. 2,058 of even date, reference being had thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

According to the present invention a ventilating window structure comprises wall framing members defining a rectangular window opening, a window frame adapted to support a glass pane, and means for supporting said window frame within said opening adapted to be moved from a closed position in which said opening is completely closed by said frame with its associated pane to an open or ventilating position in which at least part of the opening is uncovered, said means including an outer capping strip, an inner capping strip, said outer and inner capping strips being so mounted as to be movable from a first position in which they close the gap between the window frame and associated wall framing member and prevent relative movement therebetween to a second or ventilating position in which such relative motion is not prevented by the capping strips.

More particularly according to the present invention a ventilating window structure comprises wall framing members defining a rectangular window opening, a window frame, means for pivotably supporting said window frame within said opening for pivoted motion about an axis parallel to two opposite edges of the window opening, a pair of outer capping strips, a pair of inner capping strips, said outer and inner strips being arranged to bridge the gap between the window opening and the Window frame along the edges perpendicular to said axis at respectively the outer and inner sides of the window, and means for moving said strips from an operative position in which they bridge said gap to an inoperative position in which they are retracted to allow free pivotal motion of the window frame about said axis and vice versa.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective View of a ventilating window structure.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the window structure according to the invention, showing the window frame in its closed and locked position with the upper and the lower cross members of the window frame removed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the wall framing and the window frame and associated parts as seen in a horizontal sectional view with the window frame and associated parts in their closed or locking positions.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 but showing the window frame and associated parts in opened positions.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a bracket member for the support of pivot pins for different pivotable parts of the window structure.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat simplified plan view of a mechanism for moving the rail members to the open or closed positions, the right hand side of said figure showing the mechanism in closed position while the left hand side showing the parts in opened position.

FIG. 7 is a lateral view of the mechanism of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views drawn to a larger scale, illustrating different sealing members used in the window construction.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a wall opening comprising upper and lower horizontal wall framing members 10% and a pair of opposedly arranged vertical wall framing members ltlll. Similarly, a window frame comprises upper and lower horizontal frame members 1ii2 and a pair of opposedly arranged vertical glass frame members or reinforcing structure 163. In the embodiment to be described the window frame 102, 103 is pivotally supported on pivot pins 104 arranged to form a horizontal pivotal axis intermediate the upper and lower horizontal wall forming members 100.

It should be well known to anyone skilled in the art that an engagement enabling fully weather tight sealing between the movable and the stationary parts may easily be obtained between the horizontal frame members and 102 of the wall frame and the window frame, respectively. However, a good sealing engagement between the vertical frame members 16 1, 103 will not be so easily obtained, the area around the pivot pins 104 forming a weak point where water may enter and draft may occur, should the sealing be inadequate.

Furthermore, a suitable arrangement must be used to lock the window frame in its closed position. It is well known in the art that the conventional locking means heretofore used tend to create stresses of the window frame. Such stresses may be dangerous to the glass pane, this being even more so when embodying composite glass panes of the kind comprising two or three glass sheets arranged in spaced relationship in an air-tight and moisture-tight frame with a permanent seal therebetween. Even small stresses may break this seal and thus the specific advantages of this construction are entirely lost.

According to the present invention a pair of rail members or elements 105 are arranged at each vertical side edge of the window, each of said rail members having a first edge 1% for engagement towards the wall framing and a second edge 107 for engagement towards the window. As will appear from FIG. 2, the wall framing may comprise an l-beam whereby said first sealing gasket may act towards the outer edges of the flanges of said beam.

By means of this arrangement the glass pane is firmly gripped at each vertical side edge between rail members bridging the gap or clearance space between the Window frame and the wall frame, such bridging of the gap being provided at both the inner and the outer sides. Particularly in wall structures of the stated kind this arrangement may solve a number of problems relating particularly to suchstructure. For a closer understanding thereof, referen'ce will now be made to the specific embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The vertical part of the wall framing comprises a mullion consisting of an l-beam of extruded aluminum having a web portion 21, :an outer flange 22 and an inner flange 23. The inner flange 23 is covered by an inwardly facing wooden member 37 whilst the outer flange 22 is covered by a channel member 39.

Each rail member 105 comprises an exposed capping strip'or arcuate element 110 having curved cross section. At one longitudinal edge said capping strip terminates in a flange 111, whilst the opposite longitudinal edge supports a Y-shaped sealing gasket or resilient means 112 received Within an undercut groove 113. The flange 111 of the outer capping strip engages a gasket strip or resilient means 115 received in a groove between the channel member 39 and the outer flange 22, whereas the flange 111 of the inner capping strip engages a sealing gasket strip or resilient means 116 at the outer edge of the inner flange 23.

The rail members 105 are made from an aluminum alloy by extrusion as a continuous bar of the desired profile cross section, said bar being cut to the desired length, the inner and the outer rail member being identical in their cross sectional shape. Each rail member has a web portion 117 extending from the capping strip portion inwards to engage by means of hinged blades 1 19 a vertical pivot pin 118, thus each capping strip may be pivoted from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 or vice versa. Bushings 120 of nylon or similar material are arranged to act as bearings while simultaneouslypreventing undue heat transfer between contacting metal parts.

In the embodiment illustrated, referring now to FIG. 5, the pivot pin 118 is divided into two halves supported by a bracket 121 intermediate the upper and lower horizontal transoms of the wall framing, said bracket 1.21 addi tionally serving as a bracket for the pivot pin of the glass frame. The bracket is constructed to have vertically ex tending cylindrical bearing recesses 122 for the vertical pivot pins 118 and a horizontal bearing recess 123 for the horizontal pivot pin 104 of the glass frame. In order to enable easy mounting, the outer part of the bracket is provided with a removable part 124 secured by means of screws 125 to the main part of the bracket.

By the arrangement described above, the glass pane of the window frame will be gripped between the gasket strips 112 of the inner and outer capping strips, whereas the flanges 111 will be urged towards the gasket strips 115, 116 when window is closed (-FIG. 3). By pivotal motion of the capping strips 110 about the pivot pins 118 into the space defined by the web 21 and the flanges 2'2, 23, said capping strips will be pivoted away from the window opening-thus the window frame is released and may be moved to an opened position for ventilation of the room. Furthermore, FIG. 1 will show that the window frame may be pivoted about the pivotal axis to a position in which the outer face of the glass pane ma easily be cleaned from the room inside.

Because of this pivotal mounting of the capping strips 110 whereby same be moved to a position in which the window frame is firmly gripped therebetween, the mechanism for locking the window frame in its closed position may be simplified to a mechanism for moving said capping strips to and from their closed positions, such mechanism being shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The mechanism comprises a set of rhombic plate members 130, preferably two, which are pivotally supported on pivot pins 131, see FIG. 7, said pivot pins 131 being secured to the web 21 of the mullions. The use of two interconnected members 130 enables application of a high locking force to the capping strips 110 adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof. To each of a pair of diametrical- 1y opposed corners of the plates is secured a hook member 132 engaging an eyelet 133 at one end of a link 134, the other end of which is provided with a stud 135 engaging a lug 136 secured to a web portion 117 of the rail members 105.

The plates 130 are interconnected by a rod .137 pivotally secured to a third corner of the respective plates. At the fourth corner of the lower plate 130 is arranged a slot 1138, said slot extending in a radial direction with respect to the pivot pin 131 on which the plate is mounted. This slot receives a pin 139 secured at the end of a branch 140 of a lever pivotably supported at 141 and having a handle part v14-2 extending outwards to serve as a handle for manipulation of the mechanism.

Because each of the two links 134 of a plate member 130 engages an individual one of the rail members 105, i.e. either the outer one or the inner one, pivotal motion of the plates 130 will move the outer rail member and the inner rail member in unison from locking position to releasing position and vice versa. Although it would be easy to provide a mechanism for moving the rail members 105 at both side edges 101 by means of a single handle 142, it is at present preferred to arrange a separate handle for each side edge 101. The reason for this is that one may then open at one side edge only while keeping the window frame locked at the opposite edge; this opening at one side edge will provide a slot opening serving as a ventilation opening instead of the conventional ventilation openings otherwise arranged as separate openings of a wall. It is a well established fact that such separate openings in addition to the window openings are disadvantageous by several reasons. In the present arrangement, a ventilating effect may thus be obtained by the slot between the wall framing 101 and the window frame 103. By controlled opening of the sealing members of such gap, a controlled amount of air may be allowed to flow from the outside into the room.

In this connection, it should be noted that the slot 138 in combination iwth the handle $142 will have a self-locking effect when moved to the extreme positions of the plates 130. This Will ensure that the mechanism is not loosened inadvertently by, for instance, wind pressure acting towards the window.

In :order to obtain good sealing between the movable and stationary parts, the sealing strips 112, 115 and 116 are preferably made from synthetic rubber materials by extrusion. In order to enable good tightening, the strips may be extruded with cross sectional shapes which are given by way of example in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10.

According to FIG. 8, the sealing strip 115 has a head portion received in a recess 151 at the outer edge of the flange 22. The intermediate portion 152 of said seal ing strip engages an extension of the channel member 39. The strip terminates in a head portion 153 at its free end, said head portion carryinga flange shaped part 154 which is engaged by the flange 111. By the latter arrangement a good engagement between the sealing strip 115 will be obtained independent of any misalignment between the flange 111 and the strip 115 and of other factors influencing upon the engagement between said parts, such as warping and distortion of parts.

In the arrangement of FIG. 9 the edge of the flange 23 is provided with a T-shaped extension 155 enclosed by the sealing strip 116. This extension is shaped so that a small air pocket 156 is formed, whereby heat transfer between outer and inner parts is reduced. A nose part 157 is arranged to abut the inner walling, which is indicated by a dotted line. Here again, a flange portion 158 gives increased resiliency at the place where the flange 111 and the sealing strip 116 are interengaged in closing position.

In FIG. 10 is shown the cross section of the sealing strip 112, said strip having nose portions 159 intended to give a good sealing effect when urged towards the glass surface by virtue of an air pocket formed between the nose portions 159. Furthermore, said nose portions will ensure good contact between the rail members 105 and the glass pane, regardless of minor variations in the positions of the parts, which may be due to unexactness during erection or misalignment after mounting.

It should now be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the arrangement according to the invention presents a number of advantages. First of all, the capping strips will effectively bridge the gaps between the movable and stationary parts in a window opening while providing individual tightening towards the movable window frame and the wall framing, respectively. Secondly, the sealing strips 112 will engage towards the faces of the glass pane rather than towards the frame members, said faces of the window pane normally representing a smoother surface than obtainable on the materials conventionally used in window frames. As mentioned above, this engagement towards the glass pane rather than towards the window frame as conventional in the art will additionally prevent any stressing of the edges of the glass pane. This applies also to the feature of combining the tightening arrangement with the arrangement for locking the windows in their closed positions.

Although the present invention may be embodied in a wall structure of several materials and of different construction, the arrangement described above by way of example is of specific interest in Wall structures of the kind known in the trade as glazed curtain walling, as hereinbefore mentioned. Briefly, it may be mentioned that a main problem in wall structures of the stated kind is concerned with the relatively high coetficient of thermal expansion of constructional materials embodied in such walls. Consequently, ample space must be left for allowing this expansion to take place. On the other hand, because the elements of the walls are prefabricated elements, other problems involve the maintenance of a predetermined standard spacing during erection, or means for compensating deviations from the given standard. The arrangement according to the present invention will per se afford such compensation means, because maintenance of a given spacing between the members 101 and 103 is not critical.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A window structure comprising a plurality of wall framing members adapted to provide a substantially rectangular window opening, a wind-ow frame within said opening and providing spaces between the wall framing members and the window frame, means for pivoting the window frame out of the plane of the window opening, a pair of outer capping strips, a pair of inner capping strips, said outer and inner capping strips being displaceably supported on the wall framing in the space between the window frame and the wall frame, and means for selectively displacing the capping strips to a position in which said capping strips are in scalable contact with the window frame and to a retracted position wherein said capping strips are displaced from the space between the window frame and the wall frame to permit the pivotal motion of the window frame, the latter said means comprising a handle, a plate member pivotally supported on one of the wall framing members and connected to the inner and outer capping strips associated with said one wall framing member, said plate member being provided with a slot, a handle having opposite ends, a pin at one of said ends of said handle and slidably engaged in said slot, said handle being pivotally supported from said one wall frame member intermediate its said ends so that said pin is movable in said slot between first and second positions upon movement of said handle, said capping strips being in sealing engagement with said window frame in one of said positions of the pin in the slot and displaced from said space to permit pivoting of the window frame with the pin in the other of said positions in the slot.

2. A window structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plate is substantially rectangular, said slot extend-ing along a diagonal of said plate, said capping strips being connected to said plate at the corners of said plate along the other diagonal.

3. A window structure as claimed in claim 2 comprising a second plate pivotally connected to a first end of said one wall framing member and engaging said inner and outer capping strips associated with said one wall framing member, the first plate being pivotally connected to the opposite end of said one wall framing member, and a link connecting said plates for causing the same to move in unison upon movement of said handle.

4. A structure comprising a framing member, a pane displaceable relative to said framing member between open and closed positions, a reinforcing structure perimetrally engaging said pane and defining a clearance space with said framing member when said pane is in the closed position, means on said framing member to bridge said reinforcing structure and engage said pane with the latter in the closed position, said framing member defining an opening aligned with said pane, said means including elements having retracted positions within said opening and extended positions wherein said elements protrude from said opening and engage said pane, said elements in said extended positions extending between said framing member and said pane, resilient means perimetrally bounding said opening, said elements including edge portions adapted for engaging said resilient means with said elements in the extended position whereby a complete seal is ensured between said elements and framing member and resilient means on said elements adapted to engage said pane with said elements in the extended position whereby a complete seal is also ensured between said elements and said pane and whereby irregularities in said pane can be accommodated.

5. A structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said elements are arcuate elements concentrically arranged about a common axis parallel to said framing member, comprising means supporting said elements for rotation on said axis, between retracted and extended positions, said elements in extended position engaging said pane on opposite sides thereof.

6. A structure comprising a framing member, a pane displaceable relative to said framing member between open and closed positions, said pane having edges which, with the pane in said closed position, define a clearance space with said framing member, and means for engaging said pane with the latter in the closed position and forming a seal between said framing member and pane; said means including elements having extended and retracted positions, resilient members supported by said elements and being adapted when said elements are in the extended position to engage said pane substantially perpendicularly on opposite sides thereof at positions spaced from the edges of the pane, each of said elements defining a peripheral groove and each of said resilient members being of Y-shape and including three legs one of which is accommodated in said groove while the other two fiatten against said pane in substantially coplanar relation, and second resilient members supported by said framing member, said elements including edge portions adapted for engaging the said second resilient members when said elements are in the extended position whereby a complete seal is ensured between said elements and the framing member.

7. A structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of the said second resilient members defines with the framing member an air pocket to minimize heat transfer.

8. A structure comprising a framing member, a window pane, pivot means on said framing member and supporting said pane in said framing member for rotation about a horizontal axis between open and closed positions, a reinforcing structure perimetrally engaging said pane and defining a clearance space with said framing member when said pane is in the closed position, means on said framing member to bridge said reinforcing structure and engage said pane with the latter in the closed position, said framing member defining an opening aligned with said pane, said means including elements having retracted positions within said opening and extended positions wherein said elements protrude from said opening and engage said pane, said elements in said extended positions extending between said framing member and said pane, 15

resilient means perimetrall bounding said opening, said elements including edge portions adapted for engaging said resilient means with said elements in the extended position whereby a complete seal is ensured between said elements and said framing member, resilient means on said elements adapted to engage said pane with said ele ments in the extended position whereby a complete seal is ensured between said elements and said pane and whereby irregularities in said pane can be accommodated, and means on said framing member supporting said eleents for pivotable movement about a common vertical pivot axis between said retracted and extended positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,461,591 Wayrynen July 16, 1923 2,753,020 Ware July 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,897 Great Britain Aug. 22, 1893 

1. A WINDOW STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF WALL FRAMING MEMBERS ADAPTED TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR WINDOW OPENING, A WINDOW FRAME WITHIN SAID OPENING AND PROVIDING SPACES BETWEEN THE WALL FRAMING MEMBERS AND THE WINDOW FRAME, MEANS FOR PIVOTING THE WINDOW FRAME OUT OF THE PLANE OF THE WINDOW OPENING, A PAIR OF OUTER CAPPING STRIPS, A PAIR OF INNER CAPPING STRIPS, SAID OUTER AND INNER CAPPING STRIPS BEING DISPLACEABLY SUPPORTED ON THE WALL FRAMING IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE WINDOW FRAME AND THE WALL FRAME, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY DISPLACING THE CAPPING STRIPS TO A POSITION IN WHICH SAID CAPPING STRIPS ARE IN SEALABLE CONTACT WITH THE WINDOW FRAME AND TO A RETRACTED POSITION WHEREIN SAID CAPPING STRIPS ARE DISPLACED FROM THE SPACE BETWEEN THE WINDOW FRAME AND THE WALL FRAME TO PERMIT THE PIVOTAL MOTION OF THE WINDOW FRAME, THE LATTER SAID MEANS COMPRISING A HANDLE, A PLATE MEMBER PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON ONE OF THE WALL FRAMING MEMBERS AND CONNECTED TO THE INNER AND OUTER CAPPING STRIPS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ONE WALL FRAMING MEMBER, SAID PLATE MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A SLOT, A HANDLE HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS, A PIN AT ONE OF SAID ENDS OF SAID HANDLE AND SLIDABLY ENGAGED IN SAID SLOT, SAID HANDLE BEING PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED FROM SAID ONE WALL FRAME MEMBER INTERMEDIATE ITS SAID ENDS SO THAT SAID PIN IS MOVABLE IN SAID SLOT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE, SAID CAPPING STRIPS BEING IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID WINDOW FRAME IN ONE OF SAID POSITIONS OF THE PIN IN THE SLOT AND DISPLACED FROM SAID SPACE TO PERMIT PIVOTING OF THE WINDOW FRAME WITH THE PIN IN THE OTHER OF SAID POSITIONS IN THE SLOT. 